Awutu-Mankessim (C/R), July 25, GNA - Nai Kwao Otuo V, Ankobiahene of Awutu Traditional Area and 1994 Second National Best Farmer, has counselled farmers throughout the country to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) wherever they were operating.

Addressing cocoa and food crops producers at Awutu-Mankessim as part of the activities marking this year's "Akomasi" Festival, Nai Otuo advised farmers not to allow anybody to deceive them as far as the scheme was concerned.

The Chief cautioned Ghanaians, who wanted to play politics with the scheme, to stop the practice immediately and to think of how they would assist the Government to implement the scheme successfully. Commenting on the large number of qualified people, who had not registered with Scheme in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District, Nai Otuo reminded farmers and fishermen in the area of the vital role good health plaid in the execution of economic ventures and further advised them to embrace the policy fully.

He appealed to Assembly, Unit Committee, Area, Town, Urban and Municipal Council members in the District, to intensify their campaign on the policy to get more people in District to register for an early and effective take off of the Scheme.

The District Chief Executive for the area disclosed at a meeting with fishermen in Winneba that out of the 185,000 qualified citizens in the District expected to register under the scheme, only 40,000 had done so.

Nai Otuo described the patronage as uninspiring and renewed his call on all qualified people in the area yet to be registered to do so without any further delay. 25 July 05